4th (NSW) Battalion matchbox cover, c. 1917

Historical note: 

A carton of these souvenir matchbox covers was found in a bricked-up room in Birmingham, England. The room was once the working residence of a local silversmith.

The battle honours embossed on the cover end in 1917. We can only assume that the soldier who ordered the covers for his unit never returned to collect them. 

Materials: 
Silver
Category: 
Souvenirs and ephemera
Conflict: 
First World War (1914-18)
Location: 
Birmingham
England
Production Date: 
c. 1917

On this day

On this day
3 June

1942 — Battle of MIDWAY began. This decisive victory by the US Navy over the Japanese Navy shifted the balance of sea power in the Pacific and forced Japan to abandon plans to attack New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa. Japanese losses were 4 aircraft carriers, 1 cruiser, 248 aircraft, and over 3,000 sailors.  American losses were 1 aircraft carrier, 1 destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 307 men

1944 — 78 Squadron, RAAF, carried out the last major air combat by the RAAF in WW2, off BIAK Island, New Guinea. 10 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of one Australian plane and pilot

1969 — HMAS MELBOURNE collided with USS FRANK E EVANS in the South China Sea.  EVANS was cut in half and 74 of her crew were killed